When you’re a parent, you always want what’s best for your child. You want to protect them from any injuries as best as you can. One way to do that is by making sure that they wear a mouthguard to protect their teeth during sports or other physical activities. How exactly do they work? Which works better: the cheaply made mouthguard from the drugstore or a customized one from your dentist in Beverly? Read on below to find out.
What Are Mouthguards?
Mouthguards, also known as sports guards, are durable plastic trays that are worn over the teeth to prevent injuries. Drugstores and sporting goods stores offer cheap mouthguards. Some of them come pre-made and are designed to be one-size-fits-all, but they don’t actually fit very snugly against your teeth. They also make a “boil and bite” variety, where you heat up the plastic in boiling water and bite down on it to mold it into the correct shape for your teeth. However, it still doesn’t fit as well as a custom-made mouthguard from your dentist would.
What Do Mouthguard Protect Against?
According to the American Dental Association, more than 200,000 oral injuries are prevented each year by wearing sports guards during physical activities. These kinds of injuries include:
- Broken teeth
- Cut lip, tongue, or gums
- Knocked out teeth
Should You Invest in a Custom-Made Mouthguard?
If you truly want to prevent an extra trip to your emergency dentist’s office, it’s well worth the investment to get a customized sports guard. Your dentist can create impressions of your unique bite to craft trays that fit your teeth and your teeth alone. They will fit snugly in your mouth, and because they fit better, they will provide better protections against injuries.
How Can You Take Care of Your Mouthguard?
To keep your mouthguard in good condition for as long as possible, follow these tips:
- Keep it out of direct sunlight to prevent the plastic from warping
- Don’t chew on it
- After each use, gently scrub it with a toothbrush and toothpaste
- When not using it, store it in its protective case
- Replace it at the end of every sports season or sooner if it doesn’t fit correctly
It’s definitely worth it to get a customized mouthguard from your dentist, especially if you’re very into sports or other physical activities.
About the Author
Dr. Lauren Gadeberg earned her dental degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and then served in the Navy Dental Corps for four years. Now she works with Dr. Robert Blake at Beverly Farms Dental in Beverly, MA to provide warm, high-quality service to patients of all ages. If you’re interested in getting a mouthguard that fits only you, contact Dr. Gadeberg at (978)-927-3515.